Spinelli: No, I -- I think I waded into some murky emotional waters here.

Nadine: No.

Spinelli: Things aren't always as they --

Nadine: It's all right. No commitments were made. We're both free to be free with other people.

Spinelli: Can I just -- can I just be crystal clear about something? What just occurred here is not --

Nadine: I don't want to stop you if you have someplace to be.

Spinelli: You know, actually, I think that if the prince would not rush off if he understood the depths of -- ow!

Nadine: Nikolas is a very busy man, Spinelli.

Nikolas: Yeah, I should go.

Nadine: Okay. Well, then, I guess I'll... see you around.

Nikolas: Yeah.

Spinelli: I'm sorry. Can I -- can I inquire as to why you -- you kissed me when it is abundantly clear that you yearned for Prince Cassadine?

Claudia: I never would have figured you for a jazz guy.

Ric: Oh, why? Do you think of me as a heavy metal guy? Is that it?

Claudia: That or Sinatra.

Ric: Sinatra? You like Sinatra?

Claudia: Who doesn't like Sinatra?

Ric: Well, you know, depending upon the circumstances.

Claudia: So, the whole lunch you never once brought up the family business.

Ric: Yeah, well, I figure, you know, we talk about that too much anyway, unless you feel compelled to ask me something.

Claudia: Why did we do this?

Ric: We were hungry.

[Claudia laughs]

Ric: Oh, no, okay. We had an agreement which had nothing to do with the lunch. Okay, call me crazy. I actually enjoyed myself.

Claudia: You're sounding like this was a real date.

Ric: Well, I guess that depends on you now, does it?

Claudia: Walk me home and we'll see.

[Ric chuckles]

Ric: Walk you home? Well, aren't we the traditional girl?

Claudia: Are you blowing me off?

Ric: No, I'm not that crazy.

Jax: I built the Metro Court from the ground up. You know how much it means to me. I'm not going to sell it to Nikolas Cassadine or anyone else.

Patrick: Okay, you made it through the surgery. Your vital signs are improving. You're going to be fine. Whatever you need to tell Sonny, you can tell him yourself.

Kate: Sonny has to know. Olivia had his son.

Olivia: She wake up?

Patrick: Uh... briefly. She wasn't making much sense.

Olivia: What do you mean? What did she say?

Anthony: Good to see you in one piece. I heard you tried to block Karpov's shipment. It's a nice gesture, John, if you were trying to help your old man. You know, there are better ways to lend a hand than using yourself as a human torpedo.

Johnny: I've been thinking about getting myself a new speedboat anyway.

Anthony: I'm sensing my son is feeling a bit volatile.

Johnny: No, I'm just accepting my very unique fate, that I am John Zacchara, son of Anthony Zacchara, heir of a sprawling criminal enterprise with tentacles in every illegal action possible. This is my life. This is what I was born into. And every time I try to change it, somebody ends up dying or getting hurt. And I'm done with that. So this is me accepting -- no, this is me embracing my fate. So you got me. You finally got what you wanted. So this is me sitting at your feet. Do with me what you will.

Anthony: Sit down. Go on.

[Johnny weeps]

Anthony: It hurts a father's heart to see innocence die in his son. Lulu went crazy because you couldn't leave her alone, even when you knew you should. Or am I wrong?

Johnny: No.

Anthony: You know, believe it or not, I had a time of innocence myself. It was brief, like yours. You know, all it takes to drive home the terrible truths about the limits of life is a first love. It changes you forever, for good or bad, usually bad. I mean, how many people actually end up with their first love? Claudia's mother, Dominica, was mine. We know how that turned out. And then I thought I had found my second chance, your mother. John... I'll always regret what happened to Maria.

Johnny: Yeah.

Anthony: But one remarkable thing came from that union -- you, my son, my immortality. When I'm gone, you're going to be ready to take over. I'm going to make sure of it. I'll teach you how to manage people, how to stay smarter than the next guy. But listen to me now. The learning doesn't happen overnight. It takes time and it takes watchful study. So until you've absorbed what you need to learn, I want you to stay away from the front lines of the family business.

Johnny: Okay, you know what? Forgive me, but I don't understand. I finally put my ass on the line for you. You've been singing the same song and dance for years, that you wanted me to take over, and now what? Nothing?

Anthony: You'll inherit your legacy when -- when it's time. Right now I got other plans.

Johnny: What's this?

Johnny: It's a gift for me? Oh. I can take up a new hobby.

Jason: Sonny, you signed over the business to me. You entrusted me with it, to run it the best I could. And in the interest of the business and everyone in my organization, I just -- I can't let you just take over.

Sonny: This is not how I taught you --

Jason: You taught me to take care of the people who work for me. That's what I'm doing.

Sonny: So, what, I just go screw myself?

Jason: No, you want revenge. And I understand that.

Sonny: No, you don't understand a damn thing. My wife-to-be was shot right in front of me. I built this business. I'm taking it back. That's what's happening.

Nikolas: Hey, you have a minute?

Elizabeth: Yeah, what's going on?

Nikolas: Well, I just had a rather unsettling -- you know, I don't even know how to put it.

Nikolas: I know. I just -- I don't want to bother you with this. You got more important things to do.

Elizabeth: It's Nadine, isn't it?

Nikolas: Yes. I don't want to sound egotistical or anything, but I was fairly certain that she had a crush on me.

Elizabeth: I'd agree with that.

Nikolas: And for the past few months, I kept her at arm's length because I -- because I don't -- I don't want to hurt her. And she deserves better than a transitional relationship. But now, I don't know.

Elizabeth: What? You stopped being an idiot and decided to let her make her own grownup choices?

Nikolas: We -- we spent the night together. And I thought it was -- I thought it was great. But now all of a sudden, she's treating me like a casual acquaintance.

Elizabeth: How casual?

Nikolas: I caught her kissing Spinelli.

Patrick: Best thing for Kate right now is rest.

Olivia: I'm sure. But did she say anything when she woke up?

Patrick: Well, she was a little weak and disoriented, which is to be expected. I'd be surprised if she knew where she was or how she got here. People often are disoriented when they come out of anesthesia.

Olivia: Got it. So what -- what happens now?

Patrick: We let Kate's body do what it needs to do. But I wouldn't go far. If she wakes up, she's going to need your support. Tell her that she's in the hospital, she's recovering from surgery, and her prognosis looks excellent.

Olivia: Okay, I'm not going anywhere.

Patrick: Good. She's going to be weak, so try not to upset her.

Olivia: Yeah, that might be easier said than done. You probably heard about the big fight that we had right before her wedding. We hadn't seen each other in 20 years and we're screaming right in each other's faces, pushing each other's buttons. Long way of saying that we've got a pretty volatile relationship, so...

Patrick: Yeah, well, show me a family that doesnít. The important thing is you're here now.

Olivia: What if she asks to see Sonny?

Patrick: Well, I'm sure she will. They were about to be married.

Olivia: You know, he's the one that's responsible for her getting shot.

Patrick: Well, like I said, the most important thing for her now is rest and to not become agitated. If she wants to see Sonny, she should be able to. If she has questions about how she got shot, answer them. But don't push those buttons. If you need me, you can page me.

Olivia: Thanks.

Jason: You wanted to leave this business, Sonny. You can't just change your mind about it just like that. It doesn't -- it doesn't work that way.

Jason: No, you cut yourself out. You signed it all away so you could start a new, legitimate life.

Sonny: You didn't even want to take over.

Jason: But I did take over, because it's what you wanted me to do. I took on the responsibility of running this business and now I've got to see it through. I can't let you just back in here right now. It wouldn't be fair to the people who work for me to let you come in here and use them for your own revenge.

Sonny: Those people worked for me, they trust me.

Jason: And you're willing to take them to war on circumstantial evidence.

Sonny: Karpov shot Kate! That doesn't mean anything? If I don't retaliate, then it gives that Russian free reign to do whatever he wants. If you don't care about Kate, that's one thing. But think of the message that you're sending. The next one that he can come after is one of your own.

Jason: It doesn't add up. If Karpov shot Kate, why's he going to deny it? Sonny, we don't have --

Sonny: Listen to me! She's in the hospital. She's dying. The only way to stop this from happening again is to make sure Karpov pays with his life.

[Jazz music plays]

Claudia: Nice.

Ric: Well, you know, great minds... that was in the player.

Claudia: So my never-ending gratitude for making sure that my brother walked out of that courtroom a free man. You will never know what that means to me.

Ric: So I got a confession.

Claudia: They say it's good for the soul.

Ric: You know, I got a pretty healthy ego when it comes to my job. I know I'm good, okay? I relish the -- the adrenaline of the trials, especially when it's so -- so hopeless. I got to say, the more I heard that I wasn't going to win John's case, the more I felt that I -- I had to.

Claudia: Oh, so what you're telling me is you would've taken the case even without me as an incentive?

Claudia: You know, you didn't seem too glad when you were, you know, in that room with little Miss Harvard law and I interrupted you.

Ric: I can't remember anybody but you promising to make it worth my while if I got Johnny acquitted.

Ric: And here we are.

Johnny: This is a Gregorovich. We don't use Russian rifles, and our guards have U.S.-made guns.

Anthony: Well, I'm starting a collection.

Johnny: Yeah, even more interesting is that this Russian rifle, which fires only Russian bullets, was fired recently. Now, Dad, if you wanted to hide that fact, the least you could have done was clean the thing up before putting it back in the case. That was careless, sloppy. Now that's going to be the first thing the cops are going to look for when they come after you.

Anthony: But they're not looking, not at me. And they wonít.

Carly: Okay, Morgan is upstairs with Mercedes. I can be reached on my cell phone if there's a problem.

Jax: Where are you going?

Carly: Montreal. Can you call me a cab?

Marty: Yes.

Jax: What do you need a cab for?

Carly: I have to get to the airport. I'm flying commercial. What are you doing?

Jax: Actually, going to the same meeting. Taking the jet.

Carly: Do you plan on offering me a ride?

Jax: Where are you going, Marty?

Marty: Experience has taught me to disappear when you two start getting personal.

Carly: If you don't plan on offering me a ride, I'm going to have to leave now because I have to get to the airport, so... fine.

Jax: Okay, hold on, hold on. Hold on. It seems ridiculous for you to fly commercial while I -- let's just fly together. I just don't want to send you mixed signals, okay?

Carly: You don't have to be so dramatic. It's a plane ride.

Jax: Well, we've never ridden on a plane without doing the very thing that we shouldn't be doing right now, so --

Carly: I don't regret one single time.

Jax: And I want it to stay that way. So I'm going to do the gentlemanly thing and I will let you take the jet and I will fly commercial.

Carly: Thank you.

Jax: Welcome.

Carly: But no. I can get wherever I need to go on my own.

Olivia: I know you love Sonny. Maybe that's all you want to say. God, I hope so. When you left home, you carried my secret with you. We are the only two people on the earth that know that Sonny's Danteís father. I guess my bad reputation, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The whole family believed me when I said that Danteís father could have been any one of three or four different guys. Sonny's name was never even mentioned. But you know, Connie. You know. And that whole time that you were falling back in love with Sonny... you kept my secret. You knew. You knew that he had other children. You knew that one of them got shot because of Sonny. You knew if anything ever happened to Dante, I would -- oh, God, I would just literally -- I would lay down and die.

Olivia: So... Sonny never has to know about his son.

Sonny: When you worked for me, did I ever refuse to protect the people that you love?

Jason: List -- listen to me. I -- I want to do everything that you're asking me to do. I am loyal to you.

Sonny: You don't know the meaning of loyalty.

Jason: I cannot make an emotional decision. I got to look at the facts. It's not about what I want. It's about my responsibility.

Sonny: If this was the woman that you loved, and someone shot her, he'd be dead right now.

Jason: I would do what had to be done. I would not get emotional because it leads to bad decisions. You know that.

Sonny: You don't even realize that you're going to lose everything if you don't take a stand on this.

Jason: You know what? Just go -- just go back to the hospital and be with Kate. You going to -- you're going to do what you have to do. Just try to get on with your life.

Sonny: You refuse to defend your territory and the people you love. That makes you weak. And people like Karpov, maybe even Zacchara... are going to take you down. It breaks my heart to know that everything that I built will be destroyed. But you know what? In the end, we all get what we deserve.

Claudia: My father doesn't have a lot of faith in me. But I put my life on the line for John and he has to at least pretend to be grateful.

Ric: Your father knows what I know. You're remarkable.

Claudia: It won't last, the gratitude. Sooner or later, Daddy will turn his back on me again. He always does.

Ric: Well, I guess nobody can accuse either of us to ride our fathers' coattails our whole lives, right?

Claudia: Which begs the question. You're a smart, ambitious man. So what the hell are you doing here with me?

Ric: You're not serious?

Claudia: Yeah.

Ric: Oh, come on, Claudia, we've been -- we've been dancing around each other for months now.

Claudia: Yeah, and you -- you must realize, surely, that there's a limit to my usefulness. I mean, sooner or later, Daddy's going to turn his back on me. He's going to throw me back out into the cold, like he always does.

Ric: So, basically, what you're saying is you -- you think that I'm here to figure out how many different ways I can use you, right? Hey, I'm not the one who opened the door and let me in.

Claudia: I told you if you got my brother acquitted, I would sleep with you. And I always pay my debts.

Ric: I'm sorry, we're -- we're a sad pair, aren't we? Yeah, we've been screwed over so many times that we don't even -- we can't even realize when we have something that's authentic right in front of us. It's always back to the games, isn't it? It's a nice comfort zone.

Claudia: If what you're feeling right now is comfort, then clearly, I've lost my touch.

Ric: You havenít. Hey... I'm going to give you one more chance. Tell me to leave.

Claudia: Why would I do that?

Ric: Because you know the minute that either one of us commits to this, somebody's going to betray somebody.

Claudia: It's a guarantee. It's not going to be me who tells you to leave. It's up to you.

Johnny: You know, everyone still thinks the shooting was Karpov's orders.

Anthony: That makes sense. Corinthos backed out of his deal with the Russian. He had to know there'd be payback.

Johnny: You hate Sonny specifically because he kidnapped me and held me hostage.

Anthony: And beat the living crap out of you. But who's keeping score?

Johnny: You wanted to punish Sonny by hurting somebody that he loves. And what a better time to do it than a wedding? And you frame Karpov in the process. But there is one way you would do this and that is if you could find the one person that you could depend on to carry this out, miss Sonny, and hit his bride. And there's only one person on this earth that you trust that much.

Anthony: You realize you're accusing a crippled old man?

Johnny: Come here.

Anthony: What are you doing?

Johnny: Come here, come here.

Anthony: What are -- what are you doing?

[Anthony yelps]

Anthony: Help me up, John.

Johnny: You can stand. You can walk. You don't need anybody's help.

Anthony: If I could walk, I'd be kicking your ass right now! How dare you treat your father this way?

Johnny: What are you going to do about it? Are you going to kick me out? You're going to disinherit me? You're going to have me whacked? No, you're not going to do any of those things, because I'm your heir. Now, if I'm wrong here and you really are the paralyzed man that you're pretending to be, then all you got to do is call for help, and suddenly Trevor, maybe Claudia, will come up here and pick you up off the floor and put you right back in the chair. The only problem is they're going to find this Russian rifle.

Anthony: You can't leave me this way.

Johnny: I just did.

[Anthony laughs]

Anthony: That's my boy.

Sonny: Believe me, I know. If you're not willing to fight and defend your territory, it gets taken from you.

Jason: When I'm attacked, I will retaliate. At this point, all we know for sure is Kate was shot with a Russian rifle. There is no proof --

Sonny: So you're going to just sit on your hands while my bride... fights for her life? This is the level of disrespect that I just -- I never thought that I'd see from you.

Jason: I'm sorry. It's because I respect everything that you taught me. That's why I can't do what you want me to do.

Sonny: You were like a brother to me. Now you're nothing.

Elizabeth: Nikolas, I have known you for too many years, which is why I know you have a great big blind spot about yourself. You seem to forget that you are a prince, and ever since we were little girls, we were told that our prince will come along and sweep us off our feet and make all of our dreams come true. And to sweet little Nadine, you are her fairy tale, and her first instinct is to just fall at your feet in a puddle.

Nikolas: She's doing the exact opposite right now.

Elizabeth: Because she's overcompensating.

Nikolas: By kissing Spinelli?

Elizabeth: You know, I'm sure she's just trying to protect her heart and she's trying to convince herself that -- that she doesn't need you.

Nikolas: So she's over-thinking? Yeah, that sounds like her.

Elizabeth: Okay, let me translate this. Nadine is head over heels for you and is trying desperately not to show it.

Spinelli: The Jackal has found that orange soda lends clarity to his thought process. Perhaps it will do the same for you.

Nadine: Hmm, well, if that's your way of telling me I've made a total mess of things, I could not agree more.

Spinelli: Well, perhaps the situation is not as dire as you fear.

Nadine: Oh, it's dire all right. Me and Nikolas -- no, there is no me and Nikolas. I don't know why I ever thought I stood a chance. He's a prince, literally. I'm way -- he is way out of my league.

Spinelli: Don't underestimate the qualities you possess in abundance. Prince Nikolas is not immune to your charms.

Nadine: Well, he likes me. I know that -- in a kid sister kind of way, except for the fact that we had the most amazing sex last night. Oh, sorry, way too much information.

Spinelli: No, the Jackal gives his word that fair Nadine can confide in him without fear of her heartfelt secrets being revealed.

Nadine: Oh, I guess sex means different things to different people. Sleeping with Nikolas was a big deal for me.

Spinelli: It is a burden to feel so deeply when the one you care about does not return your affection to the same degree.

Nadine: I didn't want to smother Nikolas, so I didn't want to make a big deal of it, but now we're in this awkward situation where we have to ignore each other and avoid each other like the plague. I mean, how sad is that? Instead of last night being the start of something incredible, it's the end.

Olivia: You know how this family felt about Sonny. Yeah, they were not too happy that I got pregnant, but if they would have known that Sonny was the father, man, they would have killed me. Plus, I wasn't about to compete with you, so... I just keep thinking, if I would have just told the truth all those years ago, or even a couple of days ago when Sonny came to Bensonhurst -- if -- if I would have just told him the damn truth, then you wouldn't be lying in this bed right now. It's crazy. I -- I just got to let this go. I know you agree with me.

Sonny: Agree about what?

Olivia: How long you been standing there?

Sonny: I just walked in. You were talking to Kate.

Olivia: Yeah, I keep talking to her, hoping she's going to wake up.

Sonny: Nothing -- nothing's changed?

Olivia: No. Dr. Drake said she came to for a minute while he was examining her, but she wasn't making a lot of sense. Did you do what you needed to do?

Sonny: What else did he say?

Olivia: He said she's going to be fine. You want to sit for a minute?

Sonny: No, I'll be fine. I'm going to go. I'll be right back.

Jason: Look, I want to hold off all the shipments for the rest of the week. Bernie, because I don't have a choice. I don't know what Sonny's capable of.

Cody: You wanted to see me?

Jason: There might be trouble with Sonny. He's unhappy with some of the decisions I'm making.

Cody: If I were Sonny, I'd surmise it was Karpov who shot my bride, and I'd want to retaliate.

Jason: Sonny's acting on emotions, Cody.

Cody: You don't think Karpov did it?

Jason: I don't know. I can't go to war on a guess.

Cody: So you shut Corinthos down?

Spinelli: Greetings, Prince Cassadine.

Nikolas: Really, Spinelli, would you just call me Nikolas?

Spinelli: I am at your bidding.

Nikolas: Why did you want to see me?

Spinelli: It goes against the Jackal's basic principles to violate personal confidence. However, I'm very anxious to help my friend, and considering what you saw earlier, that is all that fair Nadine and I will ever be, so I just --

Nikolas: You -- you really don't need to tell me all this.

Spinelli: But allow the grasshopper to be the voice of reason, or at least the voice of truth. The only reason that Nadine kissed these lips were to conceal her true feelings for you. She harbors most tender feelings vis-ŗ-vis your princely self. However, fair Florence Nightingale, however kind and courageous, is often a little muddled in her thought process, and so if any or all of her amorous emotions are reciprocated, it might minimize confusion if the princely one, Nikolas, would just reveal his true feelings.

Nikolas: Right.

Anthony: There are better ways to get what you want than praying for it.

Nadine: Nikolas. I'm such a dope. I --

[Nadine screams]

Nikolas: Nadine. Nadine. Hey.

Claudia: Oh. Wait, remind me again, who manipulated who here?

Ric: I don't know, who cares?

Claudia: Oh. Oops.

Jason: I'm trusting you with this because you're new. All the other lieutenants have worked with Sonny, and I cannot count on their loyalty if Sonny approaches them to turn against me.

Cody: It's already happening. Sonny wants to take over, and I've been asked to switch sides. I told him I would.

Olivia: He just stepped out for a second, but he's going to be right back, okay, so don't worry about him. You just got to stay calm, okay? You just got to not stress out about anything, all right?

Kate: Something happened to him.

Olivia: No.

Olivia: Sonny is the reason that you got shot. When he said he was out of the mob, he lied.

Anthony: Sonny, the only one with motive to shoot Kate was Karpov, because you walked out on your deal with him. Since the Russian is still alive, it figures that Jason's not going to help you retaliate. Nothing breaks a man's heart more than having family turn against you. There is no greater betrayal. I know. Trust me. Jason Morgan cares more about protecting his business interests than he does about you, which leaves you in the chapel with nowhere to turn. I am the answer to your prayers. I will put my personal resources, my entire organization, at your disposal.